Monday, December 18, 2006

“The Government of Canada is beginning to respond to public pressure to improve the delivery of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for seniors,” said Charlottetown Senator Percy Downe.

Bill C-36 was introduced in the House of Commons on November 27, 2006. If approved, this bill will make it easier for low income seniors to apply for the GIS. The supplement is paid to Canadians who are receiving an Old Age Security pension, but who have little or no other income.

The proposed bill would give seniors the option of applying for the GIS at the same time as they apply for their Old Age Security. Applicants who wish to be considered for the supplement would be required to simply check a box indicating their interest in the GIS. If passed, Bill C-36 would also ensure that seniors who qualify for the GIS would not have to re-apply for the benefit every year.

Senator Downe said that he is pleased to see that the government is finally beginning to reform the flaws in the system of delivery of the GIS which is failing to reach thousands of seniors. “More effort has to be made to identify Canadians who are eligible to receive the GIS so that they can all benefit from the additional money which is owed to them.”

In 2002, the federal government identified more than 134,000 low income seniors who were eligible for the GIS, but were not receiving the benefit.

Senator Downe said that while he is pleased to see the recent changes proposed by the federal government, the demand for improvement to the initiative must continue to achieve the substantive changes still required to make the GIS more readily available to low income seniors.